Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Karen A. Wyle on December 19, 2011 at 9:28am

I've been very pleased with CreateSpace so far, after one paperback. The quality is quite good. In my case, it's been worth paying the $32 (I think) pro fee so that my proofs and post-proof copies were significantly cheaper.

I order copies that I need for consignment, reviewers, etc. from CreateSpace, but send everyone else to Amazon. Even though I earn less per copy at Amazon, I want the ratings boost.

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on December 19, 2011 at 1:30pm

Hi, Karen!

Thanks.  That sounds great.  I used a POD publisher for my first book, and I'm happy with them, but I keep hearing more and more about authors who increased their visibility (and sales) on CreateSpace.  While I'm not too worried about sales, I would love more visibility.  And I keep getting the same advice on the Pro plan, so if/when I make that decision to use CreateSpace services, I will definitely get the Pro plan.  As for sending customers to Amazon, I'm guilty of doing the same thing.  My publisher's site is pretty easy to navigate, but people seem to have a certain comfort level with Amazon, so I send them to both, and let them decide.  And who couldn't use a ratings boost?  :)

Permalink Reply by Linda Boulanger on December 19, 2011 at 9:35am

Regina, I personally publish with CreateSpace and use them to publish both my traditionally published authors and "work-for-hire" authors via http://www.treasurelinepublishing.com/submissionsservices.html. I started out using them because of the reasonable cost and because it got my own books directly into the Amazon machine with no hassles. It will basically cost you $39 for their ProPlan -- HIGHLY recommended if you plan to sell, and the cost of a proof (not required anymore but, again, highly recommended). I've never used their formatting services because I can do it all myself, and actually offer those services to others (last book I formatted just hit #1 on Amazon's Bestseller list in Psychological Thrillers!). If you can create a Word document then you can do your own formatting for both paperback and ebooks, though there are a few tweaks that may be required. I'm in the process of teaching my Traditional Authors how to format and most of them are doing fairly well :-)  Though I do charge for my work, I always say talk is free and I'm willing to share information and/or templates so feel free to give me a shout: AwesomeMessages@sbcglobal.net. Be sure to put CreateSpace Advice or something like that in the subject so I'll know it isn't spam :-)

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on December 19, 2011 at 1:33pm

Thanks, Linda!

For all of the advice, and for your information and services.  I'll keep your email in my address book.  I'm pretty good with Word, but haven't much experience/know-how with formatting.  I'm sure I'll be calling on you before too long.  I'm trying to get my publishing business off the ground, so learning little bits and pieces from all of you, and getting educated on the CreateSpace machine is very helpful.  Also, going to check out your website, now.  :)

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on December 19, 2011 at 2:02pm

Hi, Linda!

I went  your site, and wow!  Loved those book covers!  I will definitely be reaching out for help with mine, soon.  I have several books/ideas working, but absolutely no graphic design  talent.  The last graphic designer/cover artist I worked with was superb, but I can't seem to ever get back on his schedule to commission more work.  Your site is really impressive.  Thank you for sharing.  :)

Permalink Reply by Marlene Dotterer on December 19, 2011 at 12:06pm

I'm quite happy with it, too. I've published just one book so far, but it was easy and the customer service is wonderful. I second the Pro Plan. Definitely worth it. I haven't used any of their other services, so can't help you with that. 

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on December 19, 2011 at 1:34pm

Thanks, Marlene!

I'm really encouraged by all of the positive feedback here and in my other group.  And yet another vote for the Pro plan.  That pretty much seals it for me.  :)

Permalink Reply by Katherine Ashe on January 9, 2012 at 1:15am

I've had excellent experience with CreateSpace. They've handled all four of my Montfort books. You do need to be sure your work is copy edited to perfection. Their copy editing service is costly but errors will be perceived as lack of professionalism. The physical books they produce are "state of the art."

But again, what you give is what you get, the cover designs from them can be superb but I've seen over-busy messes too -- their cover designers will pretty much do what the author asks for. One of the best features is, if you have a problem, you can have them call you at once and usually the problem is fixed within minutes.

Their e-book formatting is solely for Kindle and the PDF files they send you are rights-protected so they aren't usable for excerpting or anything else. This can be a problem if you've done copy editing on the e-files you've sent them (you get 75 free corrections of the e-file -- that was the number of freebees last time I did an edit.) I'm having Blue Leaf scan my physical books and give me e-formats for e-books other than Kindle. I'm also getting CDs from them so I can excerpt the final versions of the books. For over 1600 pages (the four volumes) this is costing about $300. 

Blue leaf is another alternative you might consider to start with, not bound to Amazon.

A definite down side with CreateSpace is that the trade publishing world and their business partners, the brick and mortar bookstores, hate Amazon and will discriminate against you.

I've recently learned that you can publish directly with Ingram -- the company that actually prints practically everything (from Amazon's POD to Viking/ Penguin and just about every other trade publisher's warehoused books.) Ingram can get your books into stores without a fuss, and if the stores return your books, Ingram will take them back, deleting their price from your royalty account and subsequent payments to you. They will also do the various e-book formats. Dealing directly with Ingram takes more publishing know-how than with CreateSpace but is probably the route of least ultimate resistance in marketing.

As for exposure, CreateSpace's promotional department is the least competent aspect of their business -- let's hope they improve. Even CreateSpace's review options have become dicey thanks to laws addressing truth in advertising which are now requiring that paid reviews identify themselves as such. In marketing you're on your own. But unless you're a celebrity or fit into a category with made-to-order marketing -- such as regency romance at Harper, you'd be on your own if you were signed with a trade publisher anyway.

Permalink Reply by Kat Ward on January 12, 2012 at 7:33pm

Katherine: that's really interesting; I didn't know Ingram was a place with whom you could directly publish. I've been researching Lightning Source and BookBaby, too. I'm just looking for some physical books (DTB?) at the moment for a book fair at which I'll be exhibiting. Not sure who I'm going to go with, yet, but this discussion is very helpful—so, thank you, Regina, as well.

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on January 12, 2012 at 8:21pm

Hi, Kat!

Thank you for reading and joining the discussion.  I hope your book fair goes well, too.  :)

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on January 12, 2012 at 8:19pm

Thank you so much, Katherine!

I need to refer back to this discussion often.  I'm learning so much.  I'll do more research with Ingram before I get too far along or commit to anything with CreateSpace.  This is all very helpful.

Permalink Reply by Joanne Tombrakos on January 13, 2012 at 11:37am

I used CreateSpace for my first novel,The Secrets They Kept, and have been very happy with the experience. I did hire my own editor, cover designer and interior designer (have great recommendations for all three if you are interested.) The customer service was great, especially the fact they have people who actually answer the phone. What a concept! I paid extra for the expanded distribution channels which is nice because my print version is on Amazon and on BarnesandNoble.com. I am very pleased with the finished product. Looks as good, no maybe better:) than a traditional house.

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